Case packer adapter



March 4, 1969 F. EJCLARK ETAL CASE PACKER ADAPTER Filed Feb. 25. 1966 1off:

Sheet jnvenif': FrankE C'Zark Malrch 4, 1969 F. E. CLARK ETAL CASEPACKER ADAPTER Sheet 2 of 5 Filed Feb. 25. 1966 M r ,1969 F. E. CLARK ETAL 3,430,416

CASE PACKER ADAPTER Sheet Filed Feb. 25, 1966 United States Patent 2Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for end-loading containerswith cans, comprising in combination a chute for rolling cansdownwardly; an open-ended arranger for receiving the cans from the chuteand grouping them, positioned on their sides, in horizontal rows; anopen-ended receiver for receiving cans from the arranger; means forpivoting the receiver from can receiving position through approximately90 to a can discharging position whereat the cans are extendedvertically; a container support for retaining an open-ended containertherein; pushers for moving the cans from the arranger to the receiverand from the receiver into the open-ended container. The containersupport is pivotable so as to move an open-ended loaded container fromits horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation with the open endfacing upwardly.

This invention relates to an adapter for converting a top loading casepacker in a manner suitable for loading the grouped cans from the casepacker into an end loaded container.

Top loading case packers, of the type disclosed in the expired HurstPatent 1,976,128, are common in the can packing industry and form aneconomical means for grouping and packing cans horizontally into theopen top of a top loaded case disposed on its side. End loadedcontainers or cases are more economical than top loaded cases becauseless board is used when the smaller dimension end walls of the containerhave the double closure flaps. However, most commercial end loading casepackers are rather costly, and furthermore, many canning companiesalready have top loading case packing equipment. An adapter suitable forconverting such existing top loading equipment for the loading of an endloaded container thus would permit these companies to use the moreeconomical end loaded container at a relatively low cost conversionprice.

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide an adapterthat is suitable as a low cost accessory item to be used with a toploading case packer for converting the same to load cans into an endloaded container.

The invention will be more fully understood and appreciated afterreviewing the following specification, including as a part thereof theaccompanying drawings; wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the subject adapter shown inoperative association with a typical top loading case packer;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of the assembly ofFIGS. 1 and 2 as seen generally from line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of the adapter ofFIG. 3, except showing the same in its can discharging position, theview being generally from line 44 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, as seen generally from 3,430,416 PatentedMar. 4, 1969 ice the left, rearward side of FIG. 1, of a containersupport section of the adapter.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show the cooperative association of the subject adapterwith a typical top loading case packer 10 of the type disclosed in theHurst Patent 1,867,128. In the drawings, only the discharge end of thecase packer 10 is shown, which discharge end includes generally a chute12 having spaced rails 14 to support separate rows or tiers of cans 16to be loaded into the case. Generally, the chute 12 is inclined so thateach can will roll along the rails 14 until solid against the canimmediately preceding it. An open ended arranger 18 is disposed inhorizontal registry with the chute 12 to receive the cans therefrom andgroup them to correspond to the lateral cross dimensions of the case tobe loaded. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, a case having a can grouping of 4 x3 is loaded by means. of an arranger dimension to form a like canpattern. The arranger 18 has rails 20 aligned with the rails 14 of thechute to support the cans in the separate tiers. Appropriate gate means(not shown) are provided at the end of the chute to release the cans onthe chute to the arranger. Pushers 24 are disposed adjacent one open endof the arranger 18 adapted to engage the can received therein, and ismovable through the arranger to force the cans from the opposite openend 26. Loading horn 68 is secured adjacent the arranger in horizontalregistry therewith, and a top loaded case (not shown) normally ispositioned on its side adjacent the loading horn so that the cans aremoved from the arranger directly into the open top of the case.

The subject adapter 28 is located adjacent the loading horn 68 of thearranger to receive cans discharged therefrom for orienting.

The container support 54 is supported to pivot about shaft 60 in amanner to swing the container so that its open end through which thecans were loaded is faced upwardly. Thus, power cylinder 62, pivoted at63, has its rod 55 connected by means of the link 64 to the support 54to swing the support to face the closed, unsealed end of the containerdownwardly and the opened, unsealed end upwardly. By properly locating aconveyor below the container support, such as .shown in schematic at 66in FIG. 1, the loaded but unsealed container can then he slipped oif ofthe support and onto the conveyor 66 to be carried away in the directionshown to conventional case closing and sealing equipment normally usedon the top loaded cases loaded by the case packer.

It will be noted that the subject adapter permits a ready conversion ofa top loading case packer to an end loading device with little or nomodification to the case packer and the closing and sealing equipmentalready in the plant.

It should be understood also that by appropriate controls, the operationof the adapter can be made semiautomatic so that the completion of eachcycle in the operation can trigger the next cycle. Commonly, the Wholeoperation is started by a container 72 being placed on the loading horn58, when the support 54 is down (as shown in phantom in FIG. 1), thecontainer flap 73 or 74 closing a limit switch or the like to actuatethe power cylinder 62 and raise the support against the container. Atthis time the pusher is actuated, and appropriate limit switches can beconnected to the pusher to withdraw it after it has advanced a fullstroke so that a subsequent group of cans can move into place on thearranger. Limit switches placed on or adjacent the receiver 32 candetect the presence of a complete can group in the receiver to actuatethe power cylinder 40 and move the cylinder to its discharging position.The presence of the receiver in its discharging position (FIG. 4) can bedetected by appropriate limit switches to actuate the power cylinder 50and to move the plunger through the receiver, whereupon limit .switchesconnected either to the plunger or actuated by the moved cans reversethe plunger and swing the container support to the down position. Theloaded container moves automatically 01f of the support onto theconveyor, and an operator can then place an empty container on theloading born to begin the cycle again. Normally, the bottom end Wallflaps 76 and 77 are closed (FIG. 5) and the top end wall flaps 73 and 74are open and guided over the loading horn.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for end-loading containers with cans, comprising incombination:

(a) an inclined chute for rolling a plurality of cans positioned ontheir sides in a downward direction;

(b) an open-ended arranger located in registry with a lower end of saidchute for receiving cans therefrom and grouping them into horizontalrows containing cans positioned on their sides;

(0) an open-ended, U-shaped receiver adapted in a first position to faceits open side toward and to be in registry with one open end of saidarranger;

(d) a pusher movable through said arranger to discharge the cans fromone end thereof and into said receiver located in said first position;

(e) means for pivoting said receiver from the first position throughapproximately 90 to a second position whereat the cans therein areextended vertically;

(f) a container support disposed adjacent one open end of the receiver,when the receiver is in its second position, suitable for holding anend-loaded container with its open end facing and in registry with saidone open end;

(g) a plunger disposed adjacent the opposite open end of the receiver,when the latter is in its second position, adapted to be advancedthrough the receiver toward the container support for moving the cansfrom the receiver and into the container, and thereafter to be retractedto permit the return of the receiver to the first position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said container support ispivoted about a horizontal axis to stand the container having anupwardly facing open end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,043,411 6/1936 Kimball 53249 X2,956,381 10/1960 Chauvin et a1. 5326 2,993,316 7/1961 Kerr 53-164 X3,139,714 7/1964 Hall 53159 FOREIGN PATENTS 708,084 4/1954 GreatBritain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

